Dear John

noun

: a letter (as to a soldier) in which a spouse or partner asks for a divorce or a partner breaks off an engagement or a friendship

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Dear John was in 1945

Dictionary Entries Near Dear John

Cite this Entry

“Dear John.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Dear%20John. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!